Combined square, level, and tape-measure.



No; 733,302. PATENTED JULY 7', 1903 v R. E. VAN COURT. COMBINED SQUARE,LEVEL, AND TAPE MEASURE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 7. 1902.

NOHODEL.

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ROBERT E. VAN COURT, OF NEWVTON, IOWA.

COMBlNED SQUARE,

LEVEL, AND TAPE-MEASURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 733,302, dated July '7,1903.

Application filed May 7,1902. Serial No. 106,338. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT E. VAN COURT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Newton, in the county of Jasper and State of Iowa, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in a Combined Square, Level, andTape-Measure, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to combined squares, level,and tape-measure; andthe object thereof is to provide a device combining the three elementsin a convenient and inexpensive manner.

In order to appreciate the advantages of the device, reference should behad to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a plan view ofa measure constructed in accordance with my invention, showing anextended arm folded in the position it will assume when not in use. Fig.2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the square, showing thetape-measure and its case; and Fig. 3 is a sectional View illustratingacatch for holding the tape-measure at any point of adjustment.

The reference-numeral 1 designates a trysquare comprising two armssecured at right angles to each other in any suitable manner andprovided with graduations along their edges. One of the arms, which Idesignate by the reference-numeral 2, is wider than the other arm and atone parallel edge is provided a spirit-level 4, while a similar level 3is formed at right angles thereto in the arm 2. Arranged at one end ofthe arm is a tape-line casing 5,in which is secured a spring-actuateddrum or spindle 6, to which the tape-line 7 is secured and which passesout through the end of the arm 2 by passing through the spiral slot 8therein. The spiral groove is necessary in view of the fact that theline when wound is at right angles to the flat surface of the arm 2, andit is desirable in using the tape line or measure to pass out throughthe end of the arm 2, so that the graduations would be on a planesimilar to the graduations on the faces of the arm 2. Arranged adjacentthe slot 8 is a spring-actuated pin 10, which projects through anopening in the edge of the'arm 2 and communicates with the spiral slot,so as to impinge upon the tape-line and hold it at any determinedposition through frictional contact with the tape. On one end of thespring is an extension 10, which lies adjacent the concave recesses inthe side of the arm 2, whereby it may be grasped to withdraw the catchout of engagement with the tape-measure to permit it to rewind on thespindle. On the end of the arm secured to the arm 2 is a hingedextension 11,which is also provided with graduations or a scale and isadapted to fold on the under side of the arm when not in use.

It will be apparent that a device constructed in accordance with myinvention may be utilized for a multiplicity of purposes and willreadily perform the services for which it is intended.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

In a device of the character set forth, the combination with atry-square, of a tape-line casing mounted in the free extremity of onearm of the square in a plane parallel with the opposite sides of saidarm and engaged by a spring-actuated tape-line adapted to automaticallywind within the casing, the free end of the arm having a tape-linecasing held therein being formed with a longitudinal opening leading tothe said casing, the inner extremity of the said opening being in aplane at right angles to the opposite sides of the arm and continuingspirally into an outer extremity in a plane parallel with the oppositesides of said arm, the tape-line being movable through the said openingand disposed by the inner extremity of the latter in proper windingrelation to the casing and by the outer extremity of the latter in aplane parallel with the opposite sides of the arm in which the saidcasingis mounted.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ROBERT E. VAN. COURT.

